Business Administration, Management and Operations at Iowa Lakes Community College

Iowa's business associate's programs show considerable variation, with similar schools reporting first-year earnings between $35,800 and $46,000. Based on comparable programs in the state, Iowa Lakes Community College appears to land in the middle of this range at an estimated $37,385—slightly above the national median of $33,977 for business associate's degrees, though several thousand dollars below what some Iowa programs achieve.

The estimated debt of $16,190 works out to a manageable ratio of 0.43 against first-year earnings, meaning graduates would owe less than half their expected first-year salary. That's better than the state median debt burden of $19,000, though keep in mind these figures are drawn from just three comparable Iowa programs due to suppressed data at this specific institution. The small sample means there's real uncertainty about whether Iowa Lakes' actual outcomes align with these peer benchmarks.

For families considering this program, the estimated numbers suggest reasonable debt for moderate earnings—not a financial home run, but not a trap either. The real question is whether this particular school delivers the networking, career services, and employer connections that make the difference between landing at $35,000 versus $46,000 in that critical first year. Contact the school directly about job placement rates and employer partnerships before committing.